Air Traffic Control Chaos in Spain

[Garry Russell]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11913878

[dodger]

Hi,

They certainly know when to do it don't they ,just like the French, trouble is with the training it takes to be a ATC they know they have got them by the short and curly's!

This is why years ago when the Dutch wanted to control the european skies from Maastricht all the countries said no because of they did not want their sovereignty interfered with and of course they would not be able to hold their countries to ransom, which to my mind this is just what these ATC's are doing,in this climate they ought to think their selves lucky they have got jobs, and don't tell me the job is stressfull, if you can't stand the heat etc!

I feel really sorry for all the people who were looking forward to their holiday's this coming week,

Just my thoughts on it, i'll now run for cover!!

Roger.

[Garry Russell]

Rember the French ATC being run by the mil back in the seventies and there was a mid air collision?

Not good

[Chris Trott]

You would think all controllers around the world would remember what happened to NATCA here in the US in the 1980's when they decided to pull the same stupid stunt. There's a lot of people here still bitter about it on both sides, thank God in that situation no one went to jail, but with the entitlement mentality of people today, that may be what needs to happen.

[Trev Clark]

I am hoping to fly to the UK on Tuesday and these bloody greedy b***ers are being a pain.

They earn up to £110,00 pa (when a typical skilled person here gets between 14-20k) and have loads of perks. The government (who are imposing cuts on the saleries of ALL civil servents, including the lowest paid) are trying to bring these spoilt sods in line with other EU controllers and they are very upset about it. Franco would have had them all shot.....and then realised that they would have no ATC service! Still, something needs (and hopefully, will) to be be done. Our income (thanks to the banks and exchange rates) is about 50% of what it was in 2006, but what can I do about it...sod all!!!

[Garry Russell]

Trouble is

Times are supposed to be hard for everyone but some folks just don't realise how lucky they are....and probably care even less.

Really the cuts should be all at the top and quite severe.........maybe that should now be done.

The reality is that the cuts are effectively at the bottom

[Trev Clark]

That salary is for basic controllers BTW, senior ones up to £350,000 pa!!!!!

That's almost as much as a junior trainee investment banker...before bonuses!!!!

[simondix]

I think the terrible thing about it all is that the greedy little ar.....es who caused it got away with it and are still rsaking it in. Don't expect any government to do anything because they will be blackmailed with the threat of transferring their trade abroad. So it's not just the Air Traffic Controllers at it. After this last crisis I think I am going to become an anarchist.

[Chris Trott]

That salary is for basic controllers BTW, senior ones up to £350,000 pa!!!!!

That's almost as much as a junior trainee investment banker...before bonuses!!!!

Wow, don't let US controllers know that their European "coworkers" are making that much. Over here, you're lucky to break $150K (~80K pounds) after 25 years of service as a controller and US controllers tend to handle more traffic per position than any European controller could ever dream of. Hell, only a very FEW airline pilots on the US make over $300,000 and that's only for their last 1 or 2 years of employment. Prior to that, most make under $200,000.

[ianhind]

Rember the French ATC being run by the mil back in the seventies and there was a mid air collision?

Both Spanish aircraft IIRC - Coronado and DC-9? I could look it up but Garry will know

Ian